| Austrian - facts at a glance |
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Frequent Flier Star Alliance Seat Pitch: Economy 32" Business: 70" Food Free over 1'40" Drink Basic in Economy Website www.aua.com Lauda laudaair.com Latest News |
Austrian Airlines commenced its flying operations in 1958 with four Vickers Viscount planes on the Vienna to London route. Fares have been dramatically slashed in recent years, and that comes at the expense of quality. No longer do Austrian offer free food and drinks in economy. The frequent flyer scheme has also been made much tougher, and on most flights there is no inflight service. Austria is rapidly moving towards the AerLingus and Iberia model of a no-frills but with extras carrier.
The company structure is made much more complicated by Austria's effective takeover of Lauda Airways. Lauda Air was founded by Motor Racing ace Nikki Lauda and began in 1979 with charter flights on two small Fokkers to the Med. It rapidly expanded, and profited greatly from very long haul charter flights. However Lauda never really recovered from a spectacular crash in Thailand in 1991 when all onboard a 767 were killed. Nikki Lauda quit, and Austrian already had a small stake by 1997, and took it over in 2002. Since then the brand has been slowly diluted, and has now been effectively scrapped.
Austrian has another small subsidiary, Tyrolean Airways, which flies to smaller destinations, mainly on domestic routes. To make matters more confusing, Austrian has many connection with Lufthansa. In particular the Miles&More frequent flyer scheme is the same, as are the lounges, and there are a lot of code shares.
Today, Austrian effectively fly to 122 destinations in 64 countries on all five continents, are a member of the global Star Alliance and focus its flights strongly on Central and Eastern Europe. It has axed all it's flights to Australia.
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| A320 At London Heathrow in old-style livery |
Austrian call their Business class Grande Class seating is currently a long way behind that offered by BA, Qantas and Singapore, and they simply fold back about half way, but at least full size business class seats are used even on the smaller planes like the 737s, or an A320s (plus variants) with a seat pitch of 57" or 70" on long-haul planes.
Lauda are pretty much the same, with most of the planes servicing charter destinations, although there are a few odd 737s flying a decidedly random schedule, and 777s and 767s on the Asia routes. Seat pitch in economy is 31"
Lauda's name for business is Amadeus Class. Seats are really not very good at all, with a pitch of 50".
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Business Class is in A330s arranged in 4 rows of 2+2+2. The A340 has 5 rows of 2+2+2. The old style upright seats are ok, with plenty of cubby holes to put things in. Row 1 gets a bulkhead with loads of legroom - and unfortunately cot fittings. If you don't want to be blighted by sitting next to a couple with a crying baby, ask if there are any children onboard before asking for this seat.
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| Vienna A330, A340 & two A320s on the stand, with Austrian planes in varying Star Alliance liveries |
Economy Class is in a 2+4+2 formation, giving a marginally narrower seat than the 777, however it is ideal if you are flying as a couple, as it means the end of clambering over two people when you want to leave the window seat. The seats video screen, and have the remote clamped into the arm. In the A330s row 5 gets a bulkhead, while row 20 gets an emergency exit.
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The Business Class seat is identical to the economy seat, both in pitch and in width, however if you are in business, and sit on the left, the centre seat is blocked off and the seat arms moved across to give a larger seat - accordingly it is well worth asking to sit in A or C in business. Seat pitch is 32 inches. All models have large 14 inch fold down LCD TV screen under the overhead lockers for both classes,.
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| A320 At London Heathrow |
There are eight A320 which seat 144, with the variable business class seats extending back as far as row 20, although in normal configuration they are only used with the first 3 rows as business class. Row 9 and row 10 are overwing emergency exits - if you ask to sit here, you will get 2 inches more legroom.
There are only six of the larger A321 which seat 181 and are comfortable and modern. Service can be a bit slow, with only a single isle for service. There are no overwing emergency exits, but there is a proper door at row 9 and row 23, so you can as much legroom as you want if you sit in the row behind it, however you do not get an sort of window, and you are seated next to a member of the cabin crew (in seat D). Row 6 also has a blanker at the window, so is to be avoided. This model has some of the largest loos on an Airbus, with 3 in a cluster at the back.
There are just three of the rather squat A319s. This variant is smaller, and has only one overwing ejectable windows - sit here, in row 9, and you'll get 2 inches extra legroom.
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| MD82 at Dusseldorf |
They are well looked after, so the age is not really an issue, but even so these are wacky planes with the engines strapped to their backside. The idea (back in the days of really noisy engines) is that it's quieter for passengers in the expensive seats at the front. Very true, but if you're late at check in you'll get the window seat at the back of the plane, and spend the flight looking out over a great view of engine cowling. It'll be several hours after the flight lands that your ears stop bleeding and you can hear again.
The layout of the aircraft are pretty much idential, with two seats on the left of the aircraft, three on the right - so you're better off in seats A and B. There's a wacky formation with the galley at the back of the aircraft on the left - so if you sit opposite the galley in row 28 you get very quick service.
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| Business Class Loos in Lauda |
With a twin isle at least the cabin service is quite quick, but these are getting quite old now, seats are falling apart, TV screen are CRTs overhead, but thankfully Lauda are hoping to replace the 767s with A330s fairly soon.
Some passengers do get a little twitchy flying these planes on the Bangkok route. A fault with a Lauda 767 thrust reversers caused the Boeing 767 to crash in Thailand with the loss of 223 lives in 1991.
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| Boeing 767 at Vienna |
Business Class comes in two banks. The first bank of 4 rows is in a 2+2+2 pattern, and a second bank of 4 has seats in a 2+3+2 pattern. It has an old 1980s style business class seat - the headrest slides up, and wings fold out. Row 1 gets a bulkhead with cot fitting and a danger of children. All seats come with a fold out video screen.
Economy comes just as one section - in as 2+3+2 throughout. Seat row 23 is a bulkhead with two clear windows (and a nice fold out table in the armrest), but often gets cots clamped to the forward wall. Row 32 gets an emergency exit, and a slim sliver of a window. There is a window in the door ahead of you - and its not over the wing.
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| Lauda 777 The best seat in the house - Business 1A |
Of the three 777s, one (OE-LPC) has better seats, the two older 777 (OE-LP{A,B}) have seats which need replacement - especially the footrests are a joke. All three 777 will go into heavy maintenance one after another in late 2005 where they shall receive the new OS livery and some kind of flat C seats.
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| Lauda 777 at Vienna |
Business Class comes in one section of 6 rows in a 2+3+2 pattern. The one with somewhat newer business class seats is definitely worth it, although the business class cabin at the moment still compares badly with airlines like Singapore, with flat seats. Row 1 gets a bulkhead but it's a screamer seat - there are cot fitting and a danger of children. Row 6 has no window, and no view of the outside at all. All seats come with a fold out video screen, and a joint telephone and TV remote in the armrest. This design is actually pretty good, and flips up allowing access to the buttons.
Economy comes in two sections - and which one you sit in can really effect your comfort. Seats in rows 11 to 31 are configured 3+3+3, while in rows 32 to 47 they are in a 3+4+3. This is much narrower, as narrow as Emirates, and it feels really uncomfortably squashed. Regular travellers know to check their seating in the booking process, and then reconfirm it, to avoid sitting here.
Row 11 is a bulkhead with two clear windows, and is just forward of the wing, (with a nice fold out table in the armrest), but often gets cots clamped to the forward wall. Row 32 gets an emergency exit, and a slim sliver of a window, which is just behind the wing. Avoid sitting in row 15, or row 23, which do not have a window.
If you are in a bulkhead or an emergency exit you get a fold out video screen which is smaller than the seat back videos, and your remote is in the armrest, so you keep on banging it when you are asleep, but it is worth it for the lack of a seat reclined into yours for the long haul to Asia.
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| Boeing 737 at Vienna |
These seats can only be booked at checkin, and have a video screen in the ceiling, so you can enjoy the moving map display when your screen is stowed. All classes also have a view of the nosewheel cameras as you approach the runway on landing.
Business Class seats are in a 2+3 layout, with the A and C seats are made from a normal set of three seats, with the armrests pushed closer together to give lots of seat width. It is recommended going for these seats, but here rows 2 and 3 are the best, as row 1 is the bulkhead row, which gives you nowhere to stow bags containing things you want quick access to.
All planes have had a minimum of three business class rows, but with just a sliding curtain that can move according to demand, and sometimes you'll find your seat moved if the curtain moves, thanks to a sudden influx of people in the cheap seats. On the other hand business class can go all the way back to row 20.
Economy is in the usual 3+3 pattern, with row 10 being the emergency exit seat, with a lot more legroom.
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| Bistro menu |
On Lauda flights, the cabin crew do dress quite weirdly, with dark blue blazers, red vests for the ladies and grey vest for the men, baseball caps, and jeans. They are trying to be modern as well as formal. It is actually better than many airline's attempts.
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| Lauda inflight service |
As you board the plane, there is normally a trolley of Newspapers by the gate, including for the long-haul Lauda flights, where the remains are then brought around the cabin inflight on a trolley before takeoff. Interestingly, in business there is a selection of magazines on the lower level of the trolley - but not for economy.
As you sit down, the screens show a video with scenes from Austria, and play some truly terrible lift music. In business you have to find your own seat, and you are offered a glass of water or orange juice. On Lauda's flights leaving at 1100 from Vienna, if you ask the crew they will get you a glass of champagne. While you are on the ground the safety video is worth listening to for the amusement value - the inability of the voiceover the pronounce an R always has passengers in fits of giggles.
On long haul Lauda destination the cabin crew get very angry if you open the window blinds at the wrong time. Even in daytime over Australia, there seems to be a ban on looking at the view. The cabin crew are also pretty annoyed with passengers who dare press the call button.
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| Amadeus canapes & cocktail |
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| Amadeus liquour service |
In business (Amadeus Class) there is a very good food service, and a menu (in a red folder, with your name written at the top) will come round before takeoff. Lauda boast that one of the cabin crew is always a trained chef - and will change into a chef's outfit (with a hat) for the food service in Amadeus class (although he often stays just in the galley). Here, as soon as the plane reaches cruising altitude, the service starts with a plate of canapes, and you are asked if you want a cocktail, before being asked for your selection. This is the only time the crew will address you by name - as they read it off a list. You also get a hot towel just before the meal service, and before landing.
Alas after the coffee service (with a selection of liquor bottles on the trolley) drink service is pretty poor - you have to press the call button for anything other than water.
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| Headphones the Austrian overhead band type |
Shorthaul suprisingly does offer some inflight entertainment, however it is mainly just a few short documentaries, and a "Candid Camera" style programme of little merit. There are however some radio channels which are pretty good.
Longhaul in Lauda there are selectable video screens at all seats (except for the 767 model LAU). However suprisingly Austrian only has seatback videos in business - in economy there are none even on the A340 (and the airline has no plans to add them). For the cheap seats there are just drop down LCD video screens (or on the 767s a projector at the front of the cabin), which shows 2 films in sequence (3 to Japan).
Lauda make much of the fact that their seats have individual screens (with a dual English (odd channels) and German (even channels) soundtrack) as well as an overhead projector at the front of the cabin, although most other airlines, like Singapore and Lufthansa, offer much more with interactives film you can stop and rewind at each seat.
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| Headphones the Lauda sit in the ear type |
Business Class in Lauda has a seatback video on an extendible arm with a width of 6.5 inches, with 8 video channels including 5 films and 12 music channels, plus 10 computer games. There is a telephone, which can also send (but not receive) SMS, and a laptop power point.
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| Lauda inflight games |
Economy Class in Lauda has a seatback video with a width of 4 inches, and the same video choices as business. There is a telephone at the front of the cabin.
Film selection is decidedly sparse, with one current (Austrian release) blockbuster, three recurrent films, one children's movie, a German language film, and a nature documentary channel (not available on the 767s), and the usual channel with a map. It sometimes takes the crew a long time to switch on the films after takeoff. On take off and landing in the A340s and 777s there is a camera in the nose of the plane. Some films (normally the blockbusters) run as duplicates on twin channels, starting an hour apart - at least giving some element of a film on demand. This feature is not advertised - to spot these films, look for the four audio channels listed in the magazine.
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| Lauda the Flying WonderWorld |
All classes use the same headphones. On Austrian you get proper overhead band headphones, while Lauda has small poor quality ones, which clip in the ear, and a twin 3.5mm jack plug. Audio quality is dreadful. However on many Lauda flights, the better Austrian style headphones are carried for business class.
For "Lauda's Flying Wonder World" it starts with a short film showing how to use it - alas it is just in German. You can either use it as a normal seatback video, and just change the channel, or go into the interactive screens (press Mode). This gets you to some fairly confusing menus which are very inconsistent (press Red to get back to the main menu), but which do get you to section detailing the life of Nikki Lauda, the destinations the planes used to fly to, a news section, the nosewheel and landing cameras, and several games. There is a good, but slow, Pacman imitation.
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| Austrian skylines Magazine |
It is fairly thin, coming in at only about 100 pages, and is produced inhouse by Austrian Airlines. You can even subscribe to it - subscription cards are at the back of the magazine, next to the Miles and More cards.
It is a dual language English and German magazine. The two languages are presented in the same font, around the same pictures (not necessarily on the same page). In each magazine there are six travel articles, often surrounding themes like restaurants. At the front of the mag is GlobeMix, with toys and executive gadgets. There is a travel quiz half way through the mag, an interview with someone from Austria you've never heard of, a cultural calendar (for Austria) and then a long, bulky travel article. There is a separate section on Austria, and things you always wanted to know (but never knew until you got bored 14 hours into a flight to Australia). At the back is some group news, and details of the Austrian and Lauda fleet. At the back are some pretty good maps.
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| Austrian skylights film listings |
Lauda and Austria separate their Entertainment magazines - the covers are nearly idential, but the Austrian version is called Skylights. The Lauda version of the Entertainment listings is Dream Factory. Again, the content is near identical.
You get a page of star gossip, then an interview with one of the leading lights of a mainstream film. Then there are pages with the films - the main blockbuster gets two pages, single pages for the two premieres, the half pages for the 16 follow up films (8 outbound, 8 in). There are then a couple of pages on the documentaries and kids films.
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| Lauda Dream Factory film listings |
There are four pages of listings with the films from, and to Vienna, listed in a pretty confusing way. On the left side are the destinations, while on the top are all the possible films. There is an Austraian or a Lauda logo, then there is a film on that branded airline. The numbers show the channel numbers (with separate numbers for German and English soundtrack). If there are two numbers, the film is playing on two channels, starting at two separate times.
On 767s and A340s without seatback monitors in economy (flights from Beijing, Delhi, Osaka, Tokyo, Montreal, Toronto) the films shown on the front projector are listed in the boxes colour coded in the order of their showing.
There are then two more pages showing you how to use the handset (standard on all models) and the seat (here it helps if you know your tailfin number - Lauda's B767 LAU and B777 LPC are different).
Business gets a red bumb-bag, which has more carefully chosed goodies than most airlines give out. The red bumb bag is obviously an attempt to be trendy in a kind of 1980s style - it doesn't work. However most of the stuff in it is useful on the flight, and you can dump it pretty soon after.
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| Amadeus washbag |
There is a good pair of socks, and an eyeshade that actually works, along with some Amadeus logoed earplugs. There is a good, full sized toothbrush, and some eucaliptus toothpaste in a funny little pot. There is a kinf of unisex razor, and a fairly big tube of Bicosmetic Shaving Cream, a bottle of Juniper Shampoo (now just how are you supposed to use that on the plane?!) and a bottle of Blarney Water mist spray - use it to combat the dehydration, and it works, it really does!
Austrian has just one UK base. From London LHR Austrian fly to Vienna 4 times a day using an A321 at 0635 (arrives 0945), 0935 (arrives 1245) 1550 (arrives 1905 - oddly using an A319) and 1930 (arrives 2240). Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1250 (using A320, arrives 1620) plus on Tuesday and Wednesday at 1400 (arrives 1710) on an A319. There is also a weird Lauda flight on a B737 on a Monday only at 1500 (arrives 1815).
Around Europe Austrian fly from Vienna to Dublin on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, Paris 3 times a day (plus 4 Air France codeshares), Brussels 4 times a day, Amsterdam 4 times a day, and Copenhagen 4 times a day. Helsinki twice a day at 1040 and 1935 (no service on Saturday), Istanbul daily at 1035, and Stockholm 3 times a day in a Focker. There are good German connections with Frankfurt 4 times a day in a A320 (plus 5 Lufthansa codeshares), Munich 3 times a day, Berlin twice a day (plus 3 Lufthansa codeshares), 2 a day to Dusseldorf. Venice is 4 times a day, Palma on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, Prague 3 times a day, Moscow twice a day, Reykjavik on a Wednesday at 1010 in a 737 in the summer, Tel Aviv daily at 1035 (plus an ElAl Codeshare) and Casablanca on a Tuesday in a 767.
Lauda has European charter flights to all the Canary Islands, such as Tenerife, Palma, Fuerteventura, and Funchal. Plus Agadir, Lisbon, Malaga, Palma, and Antalya in Turkey.
| Airline schedules change regularly. |
| This information is intended as a guide, but for up to the minute timetables, please consult Austrian. |
To the US there are Austrian flights from Vienna to New York JFK at 1130 (arrives 1410) on an A330, and Saturday in the Summer at 1710, Washington daily at 1100 (arrives 1440) in an A340, Montreal on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 1720 (arrives 2010) and Toronto in an A340 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1120, Friday and Saturday at 1720. There are also occasional Lauda charter flights to the Carribean, including Montego Bay, Cuba, and Cancun, in the summer.
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| Canadair Regional Jet at Cologne |
Worldwide Austrian fly to Kathmandu (monday and Thursday at 1030), Delhi (daily except Monday at 1335 on an A330), Teheran on a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday at 2010 in a A320. Baku on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday in a Focker, Beijing daily (except Monday) at 2010 on an A330, Daily to Osaka at 1355 (on an A330), and Tokyo every day except Wednesday at 1400 (arrives 0830) in an A340.
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| lauda 777 at Sydney |
Lauda fly the Asian routes from Vienna on a Monday, Wednesday and a Friday to Singapore at 1100 (arrives 0440). There is a 777 service daily to Kuala Lumpur at 1100 (arrives at 0355). On a Monday it stops in Malaysia, leaving Vienna at 1230 and arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 0700. Bangkok daily at 2310 (arrives 1425) on a 767 except on Saturday when it leaves at 1450. Shanghai is on Monday Wednesday and Friday at 1405 on a 767, Male in the Maldives on Tuesday at 2010 in a 767, Dubai on a Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in a 737, and Mauritius is Wednesday at 2000 on a 767. There are also occasional charters to Yangon, and Colombo. Lauda have alas axed all flights to Sydney and Melbourne.
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| Click here for the Star Alliance website |
Miles&More is Austrian's frequent flier programme, and is part of the Star Alliance. It is virtually the same as Lufthansa's Miles&More scheme.
Miles&More, is also just like most of the rest in the Star Alliance. It is however quite hard to even get onto the bottom rung of the membership ladder - you have to fly a long haul flight, to even be allowed to join.
Worldwide, First Class gets triple miles, Business Class earns double miles, Flexible Economy Class (B,Y) gets a 50% bonus, while Restricted Economy Class (S,W) earns 50% less miles.
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| A321 at London Heathrow |
Around Europe, there are fixed limits. Business Class has 2,000 miles, Economy earns 1,250 or 750 miles - or the really draconian 125 miles for T class.
A really nasty point is that your Executive Bonus is awarded on flights with Austrian, Lauda, Lufthansa and United only. If you only fly Austrian occasionally, you may get miles for free flights, but you aren't going to earn any status, and climb up to silver or gold level.
The Executive miles you have earned between January 1 and December 31 of any given year add towards the status you get.
Note that if you fly on cheap Austrian economy tickets, Austrian-MilesandMore heavily reduces the number of miles you get, as does Lufthansa-Miles&More, but if you put the points on a bmi card, you get the full number of miles. Oddly, if you fly on a Lufthansa flight, bmi will give you discounted miles, but if you fly on an Austrian codeshare on the same flight, bmi will give you full miles. If you are trying this trick, it may be well worth while trying to book on an Austrian codeshare on Lufthansa metal.
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| MD82 at Vienna |
You can use your miles for upgrades, except of low-cost tickets (L & T around Europe, S & W around the world).
From Economy to Business around Europe costs 10,000 miles, to the US is 35,000, and Asia is 50,000 and Australia is 60,000.
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| Tyrolean Canadair Regional Jet & Dash 8 at Vienna |
You get access to the Lufthansa Frequent Traveller or Business Lounges all over the world, and check in at the Business Class counter, regardless of class of travel. There is also a 25% mileage bonus.
Miles&More Senator Card |
It is well worth while getting to this level. There is Check-in at a Austrian First Class or Star Alliance Gold Counter, regardless of fare paid. Access to the worldwide Austrian or Lufthansa Senator lounges and Star Alliance Gold lounges with same day Star Alliance ticket. You get an extra 20kg of luggage on all Star Alliance flights (or one more piece on US flights) and an Executive Bonus of 25% on the usual crediting of bonus (and status) miles.
Miles&More Senator Welcome Pack |
There are two free electronic upgrade vouchers for flights within Europe as soon as you get to Senator level, and two more each time you requalify for this level. Two vouchers are required for an upgrade on intercontinental flights. Note that United refuse to accept these vouchers, and you need to request a paper voucher from Vienna.
On getting to this level you'll get a nice pack with your new card, a booklet with details of the scheme, and two luggage labels. These are made out of red leather with a silver buckle (and say Lufthansa Airlines on one side - implying that they are a dual production to save money) with a plastic slip in card. These act as a priority luggage offload indicator, and means your luggage will come off the conveyor first.
Business Lounge. Business class (plus Star Gold card holders). Food is normally just nibbles.
Senator Lounge Senator and Star Gold Card holders, get access to the Senator Lounge. This is by far the best lounge to go for. Food can be good, and there's a better selection of wine.
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| Vienna Senator lounge |
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| Vienna Senator lounge food bar |
Food is in a small cubbyhole opposite the reception desk. There are a couple of hot trays of noodles and rice, along with ham, cheese, and lots of fruit. At breakfast time there are croissants and cereal. On the reception desk there are also a collection of Austrian logoed chocolates.
The bar is quite good - there are lots of different types of beer - white beer, Hoegardden, Stella, you name it, all in bottles. There are a couple of red and white wines, and champers.
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| Vienna Business lounge |
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| Vienna Business lounge |
Food is on the counter running along the inside of the lounge - however it is quite poor. There are two types of hot omelette, some ham, and some nuts. And that's about it, although there are some rolls at breakfast time.
The bar is also much poorer than downstairs, although both beer and champagne is in the fridge.
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| Vienna Business lounge |
There is one shower, in the small room just past the food counter, which is often busy, particularly after the early morning arrivals from Asia. There is a small newspaper rack (with no English papers) beside the TV at one end of the lounge.
There is one (fairly fast) computer, plus a copier and fax, in the small business unit in the small corridor at the far end of the room.
 London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Austrian |
The lounge is very large, but rather dull. Food is pretty good, with a hot option available for the Asiana flight so you can eat in the lounge before getting on board. Food is often curry, with salads and sandwiches also available.
 London LHR Star Alliance lounge used by Austrian |
There are showers in the lounge, and free Wifi, but no computers.
Full details of this lounge are contained in the bmi pages, under the Joint Star Alliance LHR Lounge section.
At Frankfurt, remote stands are used a lot and this involves a sometimes lengthy bus ride once you're off the plane. Once inside, the Lufthansa terminal in Frankfurt airport is vast and confusing; I recommend asking for a map of the lounges. The lounges can be quite a hike from the gates, and they don't always announce departures, so watch those monitors carefully and give yourself a little extra time to make your boarding.
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B International |
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B |
It opened in 1996 and at the time was very smart, but now looks very tired and worn. The chairs, which are the same dark grey as in any Senator lounge anywhere in the world are showing their age and not very comfortable. Its filled with smoke and filthy carpets.
There is a grid of 4 TV screens on the wall, and remote headsets on the glass table. All the screens show different channels (normally BBC World, Eurosport, and 2 German channels) - select the channel on your headset to the one you want.
There are phone booths, no computers, but Wireless LAN technology (WiFi) if you bring a laptop.
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier B |
Food is limited to the odd sandwich, containing cheese or ham on dark German bread.
Drink is ok, with some good wine, with white being Reisling, while red is Cabernet Savignon. Champers is available if you ask but there are no signs telling you this. There is a Becks beer fountain, and two buttons to press - one will give you a German style head, the other a US/UK style non-froth head. There are even decent logoed glasses.
Frankfurt Business lounge Pier B |
Newspapers are on the rack right after the desk. Naturally there are all the German papers, but it only stocks Time or Newsweek as English magazines.
Food is the usual stale biscuits and dried out, seen better days peanuts.
Drink The choice is good with excellent coffee, two types of wine, and, delight, champers is avalible all the time. True, its "Lufthansa Brut", but its good. Really it is.
Frankfurt Business lounge Pier A |
NewspapersThe usual selection of German papers, but in deference to the UK flights there is often an FT.
Food is decidedly limited, consisting of bowls of nuts, crisps, and pretzels.
Drink is ok, with just one white, one red but no champers. Beer is just Becks, in bottles.
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A |
Frankfurt Senator lounge Pier A |
Up the other end of the room is a bar with 3 small tables for eating.
NewspapersThe usual selection of German papers, plus an ok selection of magazines, such as Time.
Food is ok, with sausages, and ham & cheese slivers.
Drink is good, with 1 white, 1 red, no champers, but a good spirits selection. There are real full sized wine glasses with a Lufthansa logo. There is a Becks beer fountain.
Again in Dusseldorf Lauda and Austrian use the Lufthansa lounges. Both the Senator and the Business lounge are on the Schengen side. There are no lounges on the non-Schengen side, however the passport guards are so used to passengers nipping to/from the lounge they will just wave you through.
Dusseldorf Senator lounge |
This is a fairly normal Business lounge, in the heart of the new terminal. Vastly better compared to the old lounge in the old terminal before it was destroyed by fire, it is still fairly soulless, with lino and plastic chairs in a glass and steel emporium.
Dusseldorf Senator lounge |
Newspapers are on the rack in the middle of the lounge, an ok selection. Naturally there are all the German papers, the European FT, plus a full selection of US papers such as USA today and the Herald Tribune. There are never any UK papers or magazines, and if you ask for them you are directed in a bemused fashion towards the US ones.
Dusseldorf Senator lounge |
Food varies according to the time of day. There is breakfast until 11am, with croissants, rolls, and some amazingly good jam. Plus there are cornflakes, and genuine German gummy bears to sprinkle over them. At exactly 11am breakfast changes to lunch, with a very good potato salad, herb and lard mix (great name!) and ham and cheese croissants. All day there is fruit and biscuits.
Dusseldorf Senator lounge |
Cologne Senator lounge |
Cologne Senator lounge |
You enter through the mirrored doors onto the main concourse. The reception desk then faces the large non-smoking seating area, so you are observed throughout your stay - not a nice experience. Much better is to walk up past the food to the smoking area, where there are unobserved seats, but alas on cold hard benches. By the food counter there are also a few dining seats, which are the most popular areas to sit a - although they get a lot of smoke drifting over.
Cologne Senator lounge |
Food is the usual offering of biscuits (both dark and white chocolate - although after spending a day sitting in the smoke they have the consistency of glue) nuts, gummy bears, rolls, and a couple of types of cream cheese, along with coleslaw and slices of ham. There is also a small pile of fruit.
The Bar has three types of white (although only a sparkling Chardonnay and no Champers) in a bucket of ice, and two of red on the top of the shelf, which are hard to spot. There are six spirits, including Baileys and Famous Grouse. Beer, in bottles, is just Becks. However in the dining part of the food area, there is a beer fountain, serving Kolsh beer in proper glasses.
There are a reasonable number of German Newspapers on the rack, but no magazines or English papers. There is a small business centre with a fax and copier, and a phone in a booth, but no computers. There are no loos or showers in the lounge.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge |
At Munich, changing planes can involve a long walk, but at least the layout of the airport is pretty simple - however to find the lounges I recommend asking for a map of their locations. The lounges can be quite a hike from the gates, and they don't always announce departures, so watch those monitors carefully and give yourself a little extra time to make your boarding.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge |
As you walk in, you notice that the entire lounge is built around curves. You curve around the initial set of leather armchairs. On the far wall are the TV screens showing departures. Then you hit the dining area, with a curious migration from the Frequent Flier lounge - light grey chairs. On the left is the buffet, and on the right are a load more comfy armchairs.
Food has a pretty good buffet, with burgers and hanks of pork, along with trays of coleslaw and salad. The bread basket is particularly good, and the Gerkins are some of the best in lounges around the world.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge |
Beer of course, is the Bavarian party juice, and in this lounge there is something special - the beer pumps are manned, and you even get beer served at your seat. There is Lowenbraw and Fransikamer (white) beer on draft, in logoed glasses. Wine is however quite poor, and just comes in with three whites in a bucket of ice. There is no Champers, just sparkling Chardonnay.
Munich Senator Schengen lounge |
There are a reasonable number of German Newspapers on the rack, by the door, but no English papers, just the USA Today the US Herald. There is a small business centre with 4 seats, a fax and copier, but no computers. There are two phone booths. There is an extensive sleeping area, and showers.
In Copenhagen, Austrian and Lauda borrow lounges from SAS. Both lounges are in Terminal 3, on the 1st floor. Open 0530-2300. Lounges are on the Schengen side of security, which means accessing them on two non-Schengen flights means going through passport control twice (and security, into Schengen, once). Then again, most of the shopping is on this side too.
Copenhagen Business lounge |
This lounge is vast, with a truly cathedral like experience. Perhaps because of this it seems a bit impersonal, but there is no faulting the Scandinavian design, with white walls, stripped pine floors, and lots of subtle design.
As you go in, on the right hand side there are lots of chairs with reading lights and small tables with power points for laptops. In the far corner there is a real fire. On the left as you go in is a huge TV, normally stuck on BBC World, with chairs arranged in a semi-circle around the TV. Radio headphones are on the rack to the left of the TV. There is a small smoking room if you double back into the glass walled room beside the entrance - so everyone coming in can see you having a puff. Alas this is the only place where you can see the runway, and thats at some distance.
Copenhagen Business lounge - the Library |
Through the archway are 6 computers, which are dreadfully slow, plus a photocopier, lazer printer, and fax. Further through the archway is a very pleasant area with several loungy type chairs and a small library with books on Scandinavian design. Here there are also conference rooms, for up to 14 participants.
Food and drinks are on the left of the archway, however the selection is remarkably poor. There are two serve-yourself beer pumps, with Tubourg and Carlsberg on draft, and bizarrely white and red wine on draft too. Thats it, no other bottles and no spirits. Food is also very poor, with just a few pastries in the morning, followed by cream cheese and vegetable dips during the day, along with some miniature pork sausages.
Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge - the Library |
A much smaller more intimate lounge, access is through the door to the right of the main business lounge, and then once past the rather fierce lady on reception go up the stairs over the main lounge, past the giant model of an A320, and then up to the top to be greeted by a strange orange budda, and a mobile phone cubicle. That sets the tone of this place - its much quieter, for people who fly business just because they can.
Through the arch there are more computers - faster ones this time - and settee areas with potted plants, like a comfy sitting room. There are big squashy arm chairs and another library with design books. Doubling back over the entrance is
Copenhagen Scandinavian lounge |
Most people come up to the Scandinavian lounge for the better food and bar service. This is to the left of the computer archway, and seems like a Nordic kitchen. There are cakes and ham, the same beer on draft as downstairs, but better wine - in bottles! White is Reisling and Savignon Blanc, while the Red is Australian Grenache and Italian Vignia Del Mono. There are even bottles of Tuborg, Carlsberg, and Guinness in the fridge. But, alas, still no spirits.
Singapore SilverKris Lounge |
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| Singapore bathrooms |
This lounge gets a lot of traffic, so it needs to be big, but even so as you enter past the very stubbon girls on their little podium on reception you realise you're entering another realm. There are two big fish tanks, in the centre of the room, and little circles of chairs and tables, in the standard Singapore style. There are also plenty of orchids growing between the chairs. Lighting is kept very dim in the room, and there are no windows, but the plus point is it's very good for sleeping.
On the left as you go in is the business centre, with 8 internet computers, all with very fast connections. The
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| Singapore Silver Kris Lounge |
Singapore SilverKris Bar |
Food is very good, with a decent selection of cheese and vegitable dips during the day. In the evenings (after 7pm) there is a full dinner service, with two tubs. One contains hot chicken and beef curry. The other has rice and noodles. On ice is a salad bar, with potato salad, green bits, slices of tomato, and lots of cheese.
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| Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge |
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| Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge |
There are two entrances - the usual side for Lauda's use is at the far end, although you can go into both, and both offer pretty much the same food and drinks. At night the glass doors between the sections is opened up so you can walk between the two.
Food is pretty good - There are chicken wings, chickpea curry, and hot rice. Normally there is a rather bland salad, and a selection of four dips with loads of dippy type things, such as carrots. On plates there are cheese or ham sandwiches, wrapped very tightly in clingfilm, some rather dry pastries, and some watermellon pieces.
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| Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge |
Drinks are exceptionally poor. You either get gin, vodka, or whisky in totally anonymous flasks, with no indications to their provenance. Or there is a Carlsberg beer fountain. And that's it. No wine of any type, and certainly no champers.
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| Kuala Lumpur Plaza Premium Lounge |
Computers are pretty good and fast - although there are only three of them. There is also a copier and fax. There is one big screen TV which is often turned off.
Newspapers are on the stand by the door, although the selection is just from KL, and Japan. There is 1 paper from Amsterdam, 1 Stern, and 1 FT. There is one shower.
Be warned that this lounge will announce that your flight is boarding at the time it is scheduled to board - not the time it actually does.
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| A340 at Vienna |
To start with, make sure you are a frequent flyer, and you do fly frequently: after all, if Austrian Airlines are going to upgrade anyone, they will upgrade those passengers who fly with them pretty regularly, and hence will enjoy the upgrade enough to put more business Austrian's way. Then if the flight is full in economy, and someone needs to be moved up, the check in staff will first look at Senator members, and then Silver level, and then at other Star Alliance members at the equivalent levels (Gold, and then Silver). Another thing that Austrian look at is how much you paid for your ticket: it's much more likely to happen with a full fare ticket (although occasionally you can get lucky with a discounted economy ticket). On Austrian the airline has heard - probably hundreds of times a day - requests for an upgrade. However the general consensus seems to be that if you ask for an upgrade, you're much more likely to get it, although opinions differ on an upgrade strategy for Austrian. Still, there are no points to be gained by being shy.
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| Vienna an A320 and A330 |
If you plan in advance, book on the fullest possible routes (Friday evening and Monday mornings are good, as are all Lauda flights to Asia) and make it clear you'll be happy to accept a place on the Vol-Off list (to be offloaded voluntarily) if you get cash and an upgrade on the next flight. You'll have to hang around the gate, and look keen.
A very useful trick when you are trying this, is to look at the main Austrian website, and try to book flights - it will say if a particular in/out combination is Sold Out. Often you can book yourself onto this flight via consolidation agents like The Airline Network, despite economy being full - and you will then be moved up to Business, if you are a Senator Miles&More member.
However if you can find something to complain about, do, and then ask if you can get on the "on-availability upgrade" list. Then make sure you're on the emptiest possible flight - if there's a spare seat in the front of the plane, you'll get it.
Often customer relations will promise to put you on this list, but the check-in staff are so busy they won't notice. Make sure you point it out to them.
If all else fails, you now will only get an upgrade by bugging at the Gate. Wait just by the gate, see if you can overhear a Senator passenger "no-showing" and then ask if you can have their seat.
As always, my advice on dressing properly in the pages on how to get an upgrade applies.
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| Canadair Regional Jet at Cologne |
To book a flight, you can enter your departure info on the home page. However (particularly for Star Alliance flights) you're then presented with a long list of possible connections - none of which have prices. When you select a pair a few minutes later it'll finally price up - however you then can't go back to the flight options without going to the home page and searching again. Many happy hours can be wasted this way. You're better off going elsewhere.
Austrian's website: www.aua.com
Lauda's Australian website: www.laudaair.com.au
Onboard entertainment listings
Note that all reviews and opinions on Austrian Airlines (OS) food, service, seats, planes, upgrades, lounges, Miles&More, and the Frequent Flyer scheme is soley at my judgement. No legal liability is accepted if you take my advice.